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Moammar Gadhafi's son appears in Libyan court

Published on NewsOK
Modified: January 17, 2013 at 1:16 pm •
Published: January 17, 2013

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TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — The imprisoned son of slain dictator Moammar Gadhafi made his first appearance on Thursday in a local court on charges of harming state security, attempting to escape prison and insulting the nation's new flag, Libya's official news agency said.

FILE - In this Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 file photo, Seif al-Islam is seen after his capture in the custody of revolutionary fighters in Zintan, Libya. Libya's official news agency says the imprisoned son of slain dictator Muammar Gaddafi has made his first appearance in a local court on charges of harming state security, attempting to escape prison and insulting the nation's new flag. (AP Photo/Ammar El-Darwish, File)

LANA says the trial of Seif al-Islam Gadhafi, the ousted leader's longtime heir apparent, was held in the western town of Zintan where he is being held by militiamen. The spokesman of Libya's General Prosecutor Taha Baara quoted Seif al-Islam as saying: "only God will defend me."

The charges are linked to his June meeting with an International Criminal Court delegation accused of smuggling documents and a camera to him in his cell. The four-member team was detained by Zintan rebels but released after the ICC made an apology and pledged to investigate the incident.

The ICC declined comment on what it called "national proceedings," which on Thursday were adjourned until May so that a lawyer could be assigned Seif al-Islam, the most senior member of the ousted Gadhafi regime to be captured alive in 2011.

The delegation that visited in June included an Australian lawyer named Melinda Taylor who was assigned by ICC to represent Seif al-Islam in the main proceedings against him — he is charged with crimes against humanity for alleged involvement in attacks on civilians in the early stages of the popular uprising against his father's four-decade rule. Former spy chief Abdullah al-Senoussi, who was extradited from Mauritania last year, is facing similar charges.